Los Angeles World Airports

HENSEL PHELPS recently hosted the annual ACE Mentor Los Angeles/Orange County Trades Day at LAX, where high school students were able to engage with industry professionals to learn more about career opportunities in architecture, construction, and engineering. Over 400 students gathered at the Flight Path Museum, where they were welcomed by Los Angeles World Airports Board of Airport Commissioners President Karim Webb, Commissioner Vanessa Aramayo, CEO John Ackerman, Chief Development Officer Michael R. Christensen, P.E., C.M., and other members of the LAWA team. LAWA is committed to its partnership with ACE to empower youth to envision and pursue careers in these vital fields. 

Last week, Los Angeles World Airports CEO John Ackerman visited Van Nuys Airport and joined VNY Airport Manager Jacob Haik and Chief of Airport Operations Christian Moreno to pay tribute to the brave men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department. These real-life heroes have been working tirelessly to help contain the wildfires burning throughout the Los Angeles region in recent weeks. LAWA thanks them for their extraordinary efforts in protecting our communities. VNY is home to the fleet of aerial firefighting resources, including the CL-415 SuperScoopers, Helitanker 55, and Sikorsky S70I Firehawk Helicopters, which provide critical firefighting and lifesaving services for the entire region. The pair of SuperScoopers at VNY are leased by LACoFD from the Government of Québec and each hold 1,600 gallons of water. The Helitanker 55 can hold 3,000 gallons of water or retardant, while the Firehawk Helicopters can each drop 1,000 gallons of water.

As we close out this year and look ahead to 2025, we are excited to share this "Year-in-Review" — a sampling of some of our biggest accomplishments over the past 12 months: https://lnkd.in/g8HaiMdU. Happy New Year from Team LAWA!

"Operation Cookie" was in full effect at LAWA yesterday, when members of executive team and other staff — along with Board President Karim Webb and Santa Claus — were delivering holiday goodies to our colleagues who worked to keep our airports running on Christmas Day. We are so grateful for the dedication and commitment of our amazing team members. Happy holidays from Team LAWA!

Last week, Santa Claus made a special appearance at the LAX terminals, spreading holiday cheer and handing out LAX goodies to traveling guests. Santa was joined by members of the LAMP Performance Division, Community Relations team and Airport Police Division, along with partners at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Airports.

The Airport Consortium on Transformation (ACT) is our innovation program, bringing together a network of 46 airports and 19 corporate partners to address key aviation challenges. Through the four collaborative task forces, ACT drives innovation in airport electrification, digitization, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. We also foster industry engagement through airport site visits and targeted grant initiatives. Our mission is to create actionable solutions by leveraging experience and expertise across the industry to embrace emerging technologies and meet future demands. During a recent Consortium workshop on sustainability, representatives from Los Angeles World Airports (LAX), San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SAN), and Schneider Electric highlighted the value of programs like ACT in uniting industry stakeholders to foster innovation, collaboration, and meaningful outcomes for aviation. Watch our latest video and consider joining this dynamic program! #AAAEACT Michael R. Christensen, P.E., C.M. Sjohnna Knack Grant Firestone

Employees and guests at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) can now catch a glimpse of the Automated People Mover (APM), as a new phase of testing will bring train cars through the Central Terminal Area (CTA). This is a key milestone for the APM testing team, with the first train vehicles crossing over Sepulveda and Century boulevards, and entering the CTA for the first time ever. In the coming weeks, design-builders LINXS (LAX Integrated Express Solutions) will conduct the first set of tests in these areas to confirm proper vehicle clearance across the elevated track and through the three APM stations inside the CTA. The initial clearance tests will run at minimal speed with a single pair of APM vehicles and will gradually increase in speed through the end of 2025.

Earlier this week, Los Angeles World Airports CEO John Ackerman joined over 700 LAX COASTAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE members and guests at the annual State of LAX luncheon. Each year, the State of LAX unites leaders across multiple disciplines to learn about the future of LAX. Thank you to Chamber CEO Chad Maender and Event Co-Chairs Caitlin Bryant and Stephanie Sampson for putting on a great event.

Last week, Los Angeles World Airports' HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program celebrated a significant milestone, marking over 500 students to complete the program with the graduation of its 22nd cohort. Graduates celebrated their achievements among families, friends, program staff, and members of the Los Angeles World Airports Board of Airport Commissioners and executive team. Invited speakers included U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Karim Webb, Los Angeles Southwest College President Anthony Culpepper, and Los Angeles/Orange County Building and Construction Trades Council Representative Chad Boggio. The program's first cohort had 26 graduates in November 2017. The 22nd cohort adds 25 to the program's 477 graduates from past cohorts, achieving a total of 502 graduates across the program's six-year history. To date, HireLAX graduates have earned a cumulative total of more than $20 million in wages, with an average hourly wage of $47.60. Graduates have worked more than 436,000 hours on projects across the region, with 81 graduates currently placed on capital improvement projects at LAX. Learn more at lax.to/Dw23E.

Join Los Angeles World Airports at the 19th annual Taste of Soul Family Festival on Saturday, October 19 from 10AM - 7PM. LAWA will feature a panel discussion at 2:30PM in the LAX Lounge, located at the corner of Crenshaw Blvd and Coliseum St, with a special guest appearance by Mayor Karen Bass. Karim Webb, President of the Board of Airport Commissioners, Victor Walker, Chief Operating Officer of AeroCharter USA, and Robert Lowe, Chief People and Culture Officer at LAWA, will participate in a discussion called “Prioritizing the Community in LAX Procurement and Hiring,” moderated by Jeffery T. D. Wallace, Founder and CEO of LeadersUp. The panel is expected to cover a range of topics significant to the future of airports, diversity in LAX procurements, and the surrounding community. LAWA will host a variety of partner booths showcasing diverse job opportunities and programs at LAX, where attendees can engage with LAWA’s Airport Police, Community Relations, Human Resources, the Business, Jobs & Social Responsibility divisions, and the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program. There will also be information for minority and women-owned businesses about the opportunities available under LAWA’s Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program and more. Attendees will be able to meet with representatives from LAWA partners, including TSA, CW Services, Vanderlande, Host / Hudson, Crews of California, Areas, DFS, URW, Concord Collective, and AGI. Each of these organizations will be on-hand to provide information about their work with LAWA, as well as business and employment opportunities that may be of interest to community members. The LAX Lounge at the Taste of Soul 2024 Family Festival promises to be a gateway to a world of possibilities, offering insights into career opportunities, potential business ventures, and community partnerships and initiatives. LAWA looks forward to welcoming attendees and engaging with the greater Los Angeles community in this exciting and vibrant setting.